Romans 11:23
What does Romans 11:23 mean?
A plain-English look at Romans 11:23 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Romans 11:23 means
Hope opens for Israel: if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in again. God is able to restore them to their former place in the olive tree. The condition is not ethnic status but faith. This verse refutes any final, categorical rejection of the Jewish people. It underscores God’s power to reverse their condition and His willingness to welcome them when they turn. The future of Israel is not closed; God’s mercy remains available. Gentile readers should therefore pray and long for Jewish faith in the Messiah, confident that God delights to graft back what unbelief once severed.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And they also, if they continue not in their unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And they also, if they continue not in their unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And they, if they do not go on without faith, will be united to the tree again, because God is able to put them in again.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And those also, if they may not remain in unbelief, shall be graffed in, for God is able again to graff them in;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And they too, if they abide not in unbelief, shall be grafted in; forGod is able again to graft them in.
Context
After strong warnings to Gentiles (verses 18–22), Paul pivots to reassurance about Israel’s potential restoration. Verse 23 sets the criterion—ending unbelief—and attributes restoration to God’s ability. Verse 24 will intensify the argument from fittingness: if God did the harder thing by grafting in wild shoots, how much more should we expect Him to graft back the natural branches. The flow balances admonition with hope.
v.22Behold then the goodness and severity of God: toward them that fell, severity; but toward thee, God’s goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
v.23This passage
v.24For if thou wast cut out of that which is by nature a wild olive tree, and wast grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree; how much more shall these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Zechariah 12:10
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they shall look unto me whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born.
- 2 Corinthians 3:16
But whensoever it shall turn to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
- Matthew 23:39
For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
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